Activity Corner

Babies and Tiny Todds

This week we have been painting planets, using shaving foam and paint, mixing it up and using the brushes and sometimes our hands! In our small world area, we have been exploring our doll’s house with our little figures. We have also been building a road with the car track and driving our “little people” up to the house in the cars. We have also been flying them in on our plane! In our sensory room, we have had lots of fun with the musical instruments, making lots of different sounds and singing our favourite rhymes and songs. During group time, we have been finding our noses, ears and mouths as part of our naming game.

Little Learners

This month, our topic is space! This week we have had lots of different activities based around this topic, including, grey, glittery, galaxy playdough. We have been rolling out different sized balls to make planets, talking about where planets are and the different sizes of the planets. We have also used the shape cutters to make stars, moons and rockets. We have had glittery water play and have been filling and pouring the water into different containers. In our role play area, we have had the dark den out! We have enjoyed taking the torches and light up glittery sensory balls in there to explore. For our art activity this week, we have been creating shaving foam planets! We have been swirling paint into the shaving foam and then placed a planet shaped piece of card over the foam to create a planet like pattern. In small world, we have been playing with our pirate ship!

Pre-School

We have been enjoying the space topic too! Our water tray turned black this week, it also had tin foil in it to represent planets. Junk modelling has been very popular in the investigation area this week, we have been making our very own space rockets. We have been making shaving foam planets along with our Little Learners, which we have loved, it was so much fun! In our role play area, we have turned it into our very own space rocket!! We have been playing in it and making up our own stories.

Letters and Sounds

Hedgehogs

Sock Shakers: The socks are filled with rice, sand, pebbles, marbles and coins. The children then shake the socks and identify what is inside of them from the sound that they make. They have to then try and match their sound up with another child who has the same sound and object in their sock as they do.

Bunnies

This week we have been making up new words to old songs. One of the children came up with an idea to change the words to “down at the station” to “down at the nursery” and they really enjoyed making up all the words to the songs they love.

Foxes

We have been focusing on our rhythm this week with an activity called “listen to the beat”. This is where the foxes listen to the beat that is created and then talk about it to enhance their listening skills. We then encourage them to make up their own beat.

Owls

During group time this week, owls have been looking at our growing patch out in the garden, talking about what different things we have planted. The children then drew a picture of what the plants look like now and in a few weeks we will draw them again and talk about the changes we can see.

King’s Day Celebration

We celebrated the Dutch King’s Day. Marijke spoke to the children about the royal family, taught them a Dutch song and we played some royal games, crown snap and matching the crown with the shadow. We had to “earn” our snack in the afternoon by joining in with “koekhappen”. Have a look at our facebook page for photos and a video of the celebrations and song. The children really enjoyed taking part.

Half Term

A reminder to all of our term time only children, half term starts on Monday 29th May through to Friday 2nd June. If you wish to book any extra sessions for this week, please do so as soon as possible.

Have you seen us on Facebook?

You can review us, rate us and like us. The page will feature photos, events taking place, news, achievements and much more. It is a great way to keep up to date with nursery news.

We now have 185 Likes and a ***** Rating - Thank you!!

https://www.facebook.com/Cherryislandnursery?ref=bookmarks

NEW!! - 3 year old Extended 15 hours (aka 30 funded hours)

The guidance below relates to anyone looking to benefit from the Extended 15 Hours from September. It does not apply to the Universal 15 hours (current scheme) or other funded childcare (FEET).

As we have stated it is our intention to join this scheme in September which will benefit many of our existing parents/carer' and as such we are now permitting the booking of sessions for Extended Hours.

It is all a little bit confusing as information is being released on an ad hoc basis from the Local Authorities but, hopefully this will make some sense given what we know!

The HMRC has now opened their website so you can check eligibility for the Extended 15 hours. A code from the HMRC is required before you can pre book sessions including the additional hours. HMRC Childcare Site.

IMPORTANT

If you request a code prior to 1st June YOU WILL NEED to do this again BEFORE the 31st August for eligibility in September as codes are only valid for 3 months.

Local Authority guidance states codes MUST be obtained BEFORE the "term" start date that you wish to claim the Extended Hours. i.e. for September codes must be obtained by 31st August 2017.

We have also been advised we may need to gain your permission in order to check the codes with the Local Authority and a request form needs to be completed. We are hoping this is a one time request!

You need to start to think about whether you intend to take up the increased funded hours either within your current sessions or through additional sessions. If you need an indication of cost this can be provided by the nursery. We would like to stress any quote is indicative and is subject to change (especially as we are still awaiting provider agreements from the Local Authority!).

We have created a section on our web site under "For Our Parents" with more information including FAQ's, Session Request Extended Hours Form and how to ask us questions. Click here for more information - 30 Hours "Funded" Childcare.

What do you need to do when you have your code?

We have launched a specific "Session Request Extended Hours" form for those Parents wishing to increase sessions (to take advantage of the 15 extended hours) OR to allocate extended hours to existing sessions from September. Extended hours is not an automatic entitlement.

Once you have completed and signed the form hand it into the nursery office who will be able to give you an indicative cost (if required) and confirm the availability for the sessions you are requesting. Due to demand and availability we may be unable to satisfy all requests so, please get your requests in early to avoid disappointment!

Note -

You can only request Extended Hour sessions with an HMRC code and with an active Direct Debit mandate.

Requests can only be made for children who are in attendance at the nursery as at 1st July 2017.

If you obtain a code prior to 1st June 2017 you will need to obtain a new code BEFORE 31st August 2017 for eligibility in September.

Important - If you do not obtain a code before 1st September we will be unable to claim the funding and if you have changed your sessions you will be charged fees in full for the sessions booked.

If you know of anyone would like to consider a career in childcare, please ask them to call 01252 546015, they can complete an online application by clicking on the link Apply Online or, just give their details to the Nursery Manager.

A weeks free childcare?

How to Unsubscribe

We understand how busy your email boxes can get with unwanted mail items and we have been asked by Parents/Guardians about when their child leaves the nursery how to stop receiving e news. The last thing we want to do is unnecessarily email you with information that is no longer relevant.

The process is quite simple.

At the bottom of the page is an "Unsubscribe" link which if you click on will give you the option to stop receiving emails from ourselves.

Children's Polo Shirts

If you wish to purchase "cherry childcare" polo shirts these cost £3.75 per shirt (plus there are other items).

To order it is quick and easy through the Tesco Uniform service. The colour is dark blue and features the Cherry Childcare logo. To order simply go to tesco.com/ues. Select "Surrey" then "cherry childcare".